Vinesh Phogat Leads Tight Race in Julana Assembly Election

The Julana constituency in Haryana has become a focal point in the state’s Assembly elections, largely due to the entry of Vinesh Phogat, an Olympian wrestler turned politician, who is contesting as a Congress candidate. Phogat, making her debut in politics, is challenging several notable opponents, including the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Captain Yogesh Bairagi, who is a former commercial pilot. The election has attracted considerable attention owing to the profiles of the candidates involved.

As of the latest updates, Vinesh Phogat is leading by 4,130 votes after the ninth round of counting. Earlier in the morning, she trailed by as many as 3,000 votes. The constituency, located in Jind district, has also seen competition from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which fielded former WWE wrestler Kavita Dalal, and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), represented by its incumbent MLA, Amarjeet Singh Dhanda.

The election has seen fluctuating fortunes, with Phogat and her primary rival, BJP’s Captain Yogesh Bairagi, alternately leading at different stages of the vote counting. At one point, Bairagi was leading by 2,000 votes during the third round and 3,000 votes after the fourth round, according to emerging tallies.

Bairagi, a non-Jat candidate belonging to a backward class, brings a diverse background to his candidacy, having served as a Captain in the Indian Army for nine years before transitioning to a career in aviation and politics. His strategic nomination by the BJP from the Julana constituency is viewed as a calculated move to broaden the party’s appeal.

Early trends initially suggested a lead for Phogat, despite briefly trailing behind. Her current lead marks a significant point in the election, reflecting both voter confidence and her rising profile as a new political entrant. The Julana seat remains a battleground with significant political implications for party strategies at the state level.